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IHAM/IHAMB, Health and Family Life/Sex Education

IHAM/IHAMB, Health and Family Life/Sex Education

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The Board believes that a comprehensive health education program is an integral part of each student's general education. The health education program should emphasize the functioning and proper care of the human body and encourage the development of lifelong, positive health habits. In addition, it should inform students about potential physical and mental health hazards they are likely to encounter in various life situations and help them to make sound, intelligent decisions when they are confronted with choices that could affect their health or that of others.

The Board further believes that the district’s comprehensive health education program should provide information about family life and sex education. While parents have the prime responsibility to assist their children in developing moral values, the district supports these efforts by offering students information regarding positive and healthy choices related to family life and sexual behavior.

The district will teach about family life and sex education in regular courses on anatomy, physiology, science, health, or consumer and family studies. If a separate family life or sex education program is developed, it will not be required. Any curriculum that includes instruction on human sexuality will be in accordance with applicable law and Colorado academic standards.

In addition to the requirements listed below, the Board’s policies and regulations concerning the approval of new curriculum and instructional materials will apply to any comprehensive health education courses offered by the district.

  1. The basic curriculum and instructional materials to be used in the district’s comprehensive health education program will be available for inspection by the public during school hours. A forum to receive comments from the public concerning the basic curriculum and instructional materials used in the district’s health education program will be scheduled prior to Board adoption.

  2. In accordance with applicable state law, students’ parents/guardians will be notified in writing prior to the student’s involvement in the health education course. The notice to parents/guardians will include a detailed, substantive outline of the topics to be presented.

  3. The notice will also inform students’ parents/guardians that they may exempt their child, upon a written request, from a specific portion or portions of the instruction on the grounds that it is contrary to religious beliefs and teachings or closely held personal beliefs of the student or the student’s parent/guardian. If the request for the exemption is from a specific portion of the curriculum that concerns human sexuality, no reason must be given by the parent/guardian when requesting the exemption.

  4. Students will be provided with alternate educational assignments or activities for credit corresponding to that portion of the planned curriculum from which they are exempt.

Adopted May 5, 1993
Revised October 21, 2009
Revised May 4, 2022

Legal References

  • 20 U.S.C. 7906 (prohibited use of Title I Funds)
  • C.R.S. 22-1-128 (education regarding human sexuality)
  • C.R.S. 22-25-105 (Colorado comprehensive health education program)
  • C.R.S. 22-25-106 (4) (district must provide exemption procedure)
  • C.R.S. 22-25-110 (2) (operation of other health education programs)

Cross References